Apparatus for washing and flushing filtering or similar materials



7 March 19,1940. H|NE 2,194,071

APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND FLUSHING FILTERING 0R SIMILAR MATERIALS FiledAug. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A. M ATTORNEY March 19, 1940. A.HINE 2,194,071

APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND FLUSHING FILTERING 0R SIMILAR MATERIALS FiledAug. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jig. a:

424.9 3/ I I n H 1 i 1 Hung in 40 1 I I 23236 23 v 35 4 i5 27 2/ I H'HlhINVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAlfred E. Hine, Sedalia, M0., assignor to Eric W. Bacharach, KansasCity, Mo.

Application August 21, 1936, Serial No. 97,158

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for washing and flushingfiltering or similar materials, for example the sand beds of filters asused in water purification systems. After filters have 5 been inoperation they gradually become clogged with foreign deposits that areclosely compacted with the fine sand at the top of the filter bed. Itis, therefore, necessary to periodically wash these deposits from thesand in order to restore the filter bed to its normal efiiciency. Thisformerly has been accomplished by forcing water under pressure through asystem located beneath the filter bed so that high pressure jetsof,washing liquid are directed upwardly through the sand, but thismethod of washing has not proved satisfactory for the reason that thejets cause the foreign deposits to form balls of mud that accumulate onor near the surface of the sand. It has been found impractical toutilize sufiicient volume and pressure to create the violent agitationnecessary to break up the mud balls because of resultant breaking up or"the strata composing the filter bed. This difficulty has been solved tosome extent by an overhead washing system used in conjunction with thelower system and which consists of a series of fixed pipes having jetsdischarging downwardly onto the upper surface of the bed and which areoperated simultaneously or alternately with the jets from below. Whilethis arrangement has produced better results, the upper jets are notcapable of reaching all the particles of sand and it is therefore notuniformly effective. Furthermore, an extremely high pressure supply ofWater is necessary to operate the large number of sprays required tocover the entire bed.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention toprovide an overhead washing system to act in conjunction orintermittently with the jets from below for effectively Washing theentire bed of the sand without the large volume and high pressure supplynecessary in present washing systems.

Other important objects of the invention are to effect thoroughagitation of the upper portion of the sand bed without disarrangement ofthe strata and to more effectively break up the accumulated foreignmaterial such as mud balls and the like'that may be formed in thefilter. 50 It is also an important object of the present invention toprovide means for adjusting the height of the spray above the sandtoyield the most efficient results under varying conditions, such assizeof the sand grains, depth of penetration of the foreign material,growth of sand bed, and other factors.

It is a further object to provide an overhead washing apparatus thatoccupies comparatively small space and may be moved to any position inthe filter.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, ashereinafter pointed out,-I have provided improved details of structure,the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a portion of a filter equipped with anoverhead washing sys-' tem embodying the features of the presentinvention. 15

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through one end of a filter tank showingthe washing apparatus in plan.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the filter tank. 20

Fig. 4 is a cross-section through a portion of the tank and washingapparatus on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the spray head. 25

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a filter such as employed in water purification systems,and in the present instance is shown as including a tank 2 ofrectangular shape. The tank includes side walls 3-4, end 30 walls 5 anda bottom 1 adapted to support a filter bed 8. Extending longitudinallyof the bottom of the tank is a manifold 9 having spaced later-- als I 0and H extending toward the side walls 2 and3 and provided with suitableopenings through 35 which the efliuent is drained from the filter andthrough which a wash liquid is discharged through the filter bed aslater described.

The filter bed includes a plurality of layers of filtering material l3and M, the lower layer 40 I3 being composed of relatively large, coarsegravel-like material gravitating to a smaller size toward the uppersurface thereof to provide drainage for the effluent in the direction ofthe laterals l0 and I l'. The upper layer It is composed of relativelyfine filtering sand and has its surface 15 terminating substantiallymidway of the height of the walls 3 and 4.

The infiuent or the liquid to be filtered is admitted through spacedducts l6 and i1 formed in the end wall 5 at a point above the normalsurface of the filter bed. Communicating with the ducts I6 and I! andextending longitudinally of the tank in parallel relation with the sideWalls as.

or loss are distributing troughs l8 and 19 as in conventional filterpractice.

The filter thus far described is of conventional type and separatelyforms no part of the present invention.

In filters of the type illustrated the liquid to be filtered is admittedthrough the ducts l6 and H under sufficient pressure to carry the headof liquid in the filter at a point indicated by the dot and dash line 28to provide a sufiicient head for moving the liquid through the filterbed at the required rate of flow so that foreign materials carriedtherewith are filtered out upon passing through the filter bed prior todischarge through the laterals Hi and H and duct 9. After the filter hasbeen in operation the filter bed becomes clogged with foreign materialthat has been removed incidental to the filtering process and it becomesnecessary to wash the filter bed of the contained foreign matter inorder that the eificiency of the filter may be maintained. As abovepointed out, this is accomplished by forcing wash liquid under pressurethrough the duct 9 for flow in a plurality of jets in an upwarddirection through the filter bed from the openings in the laterals l0and II.

The wash liquid is admitted at as high a pressure as possible to washthe contained foreign material toward the upper surface of the filterbed without causing disarrangement of the respective layers. The jets ofwater passing up through the filter bed wash the foreign materials fromthe bottom toward the top of the filter with the intention of washing itover the sides of the troughs and through the openings I8 and H,however, much of the material collects at or adjacent the surface of thefilter bed to form the mud balls as above described, but owing to thenecessarily low velocity of the wash liquid, it is impossible to causetheir discharge into the troughs, therefore when the filter is againplaced in operation these mud balls are washed by the liquid beingfiltered back into the lower layer of the filtering material toseriously interfere with the effective operation of the filter.

As above mentioned, it is the later practice to provide the filter tankwith an overhead distributing system whereby fixed jets of wash liquidmay be directed downwardly from the upper surface of the filter bed. tocause breaking up of the closely compacted foreign matter, as well asthe mud balls that are formed incidental to the action of the washliquid admitted from the bottom of the bed. However, I have found that asystem of fixed jets is not capable of reaching all of the surface ofthe filter bed so that it is impossible to thoroughly, adequately cleanthe fine filtering sand of the foreign deposits. I, therefore, havedevised a mobile overhead washing system wherein the entire surface ofthe filter bed is subjected to the action of wash liquid to thoroughlybreak up and loosen the compact foreign matter and which may be operatedsimultaneously or intermittently with the lower washing system, as nowto be described.

Supported by suitable brackets 21 and 22 from the side walls 3 and l ofthe tank, at a point substantially at the normal liquid level therein,are rails 23 and 24 extending the entire length of the tank to support acarriage 25. The carriage 25 is shown in the present illustrations asincluding a pipe 26 having flanged ends 21 and 28 to which are connectedend plates 29 and 38 for closing the ends of the pipe and to providesupports for flanged wheels iii-32 and 33-44 that are operable upon therails 23 and 24. The wheels 3! and 33 of the pairs are fixed to the endsof a shaft 35 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 36 and 31 of themembers 29 and 30, while the other wheels 32 and 34 of the pairs aremounted at the opposite side of the end members on studs 38 and 39.

Carried by the pipe 25 is a platform 40 mounting a prime mover, such asan electrical motor 4| that is operably connected with a suitablereduction gearing 42 also carried on the platform and in such positionthat the power take-off shaft 43 thereof is supported in parallelrelation with the shaft 35. Fixed on the shaft 43 is a driving sprocket44 aligning with a driven sprocket 45 fixed on the shaft 35, andoperating over the respective sprockets is a chain belt 36 so that uponenergization of the motor 4! the shaft 35 is rotated to drive the wheels3| and 33 of the carriage and effect movement thereof along the rails.

Connected with the pipe 28 at the end thereof opposite to the motor iiis a T connection 41 to swivelly connect an elbow fitting 48 carryingone end of a swing pipe 49. The opposite end of the swing pipe carriesan elbow 53 having a swivel connection 5i with an elbow 52 on an end ofa swing pipe 53 which has its opposite end fixed to an elbow 54 swivellyconnected, as at 55, with an elbow 55, the elbow 56 being fixed to thedischarge side of a shut-off valve 51'. The elbow 56 is connectedthrough the shut-off valve 5'! with a supply pipe 58 wherethrough washliquid is supplied by way of the swing pipes to the pipe 26. Extendingdownwardly from the pipe 26 at a point preferably midway thereof is a Tconnection 59 carrying a depending pipe section having its lower end BIterminating at a point above the normal surface of the filter bed.

Telescoped within the pipe 83 is a pipe 62 connected with a T 63 of aspray head 64. The spray head 64 consists of a pipe 65 extending acrossthe upper surface of the filter bed and having substantially downwardlydirected discharge openings 66, and which has its ends suspendinglysupported from the ends of the pipe 26 by hangers 68 and B9. The hangers08 and 69 are each shown as comprising rods 70 and II adjustablyconnected by turnbuckles l2! wherewith the distributor head may beadjusted to and from the surface of the filter.

In order to effect continuous reciprocation of the carriage along thelength of the filter, the motor 4| is preferably of the reversing typeand is controlled by means of a reverse switch 13 located on the endplate 31 of the carriage and which has a T-shaped arm 14 adapted to berespectively engaged by stops l5 projecting inwardly from the side wall4 of the tank in the path of the switch arm so that when the carriagereaches the respective ends of the filter the switch is actuated toeffect reversal of the motor and movement of the carriage in theopposite direction. The motor is preferably energized by means of aswitch 11 connected with the pipe 26 as shown at E8, and operated by thepressure therein. The current may be supplied to the motor in anysuitable manner, for example through one of the rails or through afiexible conductor extending along the swing pipes to the pipe 25 andthence along the pipe 26 to the motor, as shown in Fig. 1.

In using a filter constructed and assembled as described, the influenceconnection thereof is closed and the water level allowed to drop in til)the filter to a point slightly above the surface of the filter bed or insome instances to a point level with or below the filter bed, the leveldepending upon the nature and degree of the material clogging thefilter. The infiuent connections are then connected with a sewer orother suitable disposal source and the valve 51 is opened to allow flowof wash liquid through the swing pipes to the pipe 26 and through thepipe 26 through the telescoping pipes 60 and 62 to the sprayhead.

As soon as the pressure of the wash liquid reaches the connection 18,the switch 11 is operated to energize the motor, The motor will thenoperate the gear reduction mechanism to drive the shaft 35 through thesprocket and chain connection and effect movement of the carriage alongthe rails toward the opposite end of the tank. Simultaneously withmovement of the carriage sprays of wash liquid are discharged on thesurface of the filter bed with sufiicient pressure to break up andloosen the clogging material. When the carriage reaches the opposite endof the filter, the arm of the reversing switch engages the stop at thatend of the filter to efi'ect reversal of the motor whereupon thecarriage is moved in the opposite direction until it is returned to theother end of the filter, whereupon the switch arm engages the other stopto again reverse the motor, thereby effecting movement of the carriagein the opposite direction.

During movement of the carriage, the swing pipe 53 moves on an are aboutthe axis of the swivel 55 while the swing pipe 49 swings about the axisof a swivel connection 48 to allow free movement of the carriage. It isthus obvious that the sprays discharged through the discharge opening inthe distributor head are caused to cover the entire surface of thefilter bed and that the sand is loosened with suflicient force tothoroughly agitate and wash the upper layer, of the filtering material.

As the water level rises in the filter and begins to flow out throughthe troughs l8 and 19, the

loosened foreign material is carried therewith and discharged from thetank. As the upper surface of thefilter bed has been loosened, the

effluent connection may be opened to cause jets of wash liquid to bedischarged upwardly through the filter bed for washing the foreignmaterial toward the top thereof and effect its discharge or the other ofthe filter tank in which position it does not interfere with operationof the filter and is out of the way in case it is necessary to replaceor replenish the filtering material. If de sired the upper and lowerspray systems may be intermittently and/or alternately operateddepending upon the nature and condition of the filter bed.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided an overheadwashing system that effectively washes and cleans the entire surface ofthe filter and will break up any tendency of the foreign material toform the mud balls incidental to injection of the wash liquid frombelow.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a filter including a tank containing a filterbed, rails supported at the sides of the tank, a carriage movable on therails including a conduit, wheels carried at the ends of the conduit andoperable on the rails, a spray nozzle suspended from the conduit, meansconnecting the spray nozzle with the conduit, and

means for moving the carriage along the rails.

2. The method of washing a bed of granular filtering material includingagitating the granules at the top of the bed by directing jets of washliquid against the surface of the bed, and rolling the granules inrubbing contact with each other first in one direction and then in theopposite direction by progressively moving the jets across the bed inalternate directions.

3. The method of washing a bed of granular filtering material includingagitating the granules at the top of the bed by directing jets of washliquid against the surface of the bed, controlling level of liquidcarried above the bed at a point to reduce interference with action ofsaid jets, maintaining substantially the full force of the jets on saidbed, rolling the granules in rubbing contact with each other first inone direction and then in the opposite direction by moving the jetsacross the bed in alternate directions, and inducing flow of wash liquidupwardly through the bed to carry off foreign material loosened from thegranules ofthe filtering ma terial incidental to said rubbing contact.

4. In combination with a filter bed, a spray nozzle, means supportingthe spray nozzle for movement over the filter bed, a motor for actuatingthe supporting means, an electrical circuit for the motor, meansconnected with the spray nozzle for supplying a wash liquid, a switch insaid circuit, and means responsive to pressure of said liquid in saidsupply means and having connection with the switch for closing theswitch to start the motor when the wash liquid is admitted to said spraynozzle. ALFRED E. HINE.

